Chalk-Talk

Tina Blythe:  

What is its purpose?

•  to get the thinking started
• to invite people to interact with each other’s ideas and to make sense of a topic collectively, to share thoughts
•  to pick up big themes about the subject or question that stand out for the group

Note that this routine is not intended to get clarity or an exhaustive overview of a topic. You only get the “headlines”.

When to use it?

•  as a starter: to open up conversation, to learn about previous knowledge or experience of the participants
•  in the middle of a session/class: to find out where we are
• at the end: to gather insight or reflection

Instructions:

Everybody has got a marker.

Would somebody at the table write in the center of the paper and draw a circle around “…” (for example “evaluation of learning”).

Let me share with you what is about to happen: you are going to share your thoughts without actually speaking. You could write some techniques you have used, some puzzles or challenges you have, what it looks or feels like when you are being evaluated. It is kind like a little brain storm on the paper. Everybody is going to write for about a minute or 20 seconds.

Once you have written for a minute and a half, I am going to say “everybody, rotate” – people are going to move tables and you are going to read what people wrote and respond by putting a star next to something you think is important, to write some comments, some questions. The whole time there is no talking. Your pens are doing all the work. Then we rotate again and again. In the end you get to go back to your table and see what comments others have written down.

…

Get back to your seats: talk about what is there.

…

Now please also about the process

I want to hear some ideas about common themes you have seen.

Tina writes down on the flipchart:

…

Let us get four more ideas out.